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July 29, 2016

Sometimes it's fun to play tourist in your own neighborhood or city. My husband and I love to take advantage of Brooklyn Bridge Park -- so much so we got married 2 years ago at "Pebble Beach." Within the past 5 years since we've moved into Carroll Gardens we've seen the park dramatically expand. The summer is the perfect time to explore the park and all that it has to offer. There are activities for everyone, from small kids to big kids (aka adults), you can easily spend the whole day there.

Brooklyn Bridge Park334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

THINGS TO DO:Picnics

What's more beautiful then having a picnic while enjoying a view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge? Whether having a picnic for one or for a lot...there's a lot of green spaces to lay out or even little "beaches" to take in the views. You'll find the most green spaces at Pier 1. If you're looking for a unique area, to get closer to the East River and a view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge head to Main Street where you'll find Pebble Beach. Or have a picnic on the brand new Pier 4 Beach. Unlike Pebble Beach this is more friendly to actually lay out a blanket on and relax East River side.BoulderingUnder the Manhattan Bridge

If you're an active person or looking to try something new head to Main Street for the brand new bouldering wall. My husband and I went down there to check it out and loved it. It's only $9 for an all day pass (you will get stamped and then can come and goes as you please)...This does not include the shoe rental. We spent 2 hours scaling walls and cheering each other on. It was really cool to see people of all ages either trying for the first time or those who are climbers doing it.

Though this pool is small it's still rather neat to swim while having the view of Manhattan. They have 45 minute swim sessions daily from 10am to 6pm on a first come first bases. Which means get there early before the time you want to swim so you can get your wristband (visit the website for more details and time). I love this little pool because not only is it a beautiful clean spot to cool off in the middle of Brooklyn, but they have a lemonade stand that also sells boozy drinks and a little beach area to get your tan on. These areas are open to the public and don't have to be a pool swimmer.

Pier 2 is FULL of different activities for everyone. This houses basketball, handball, bocce, and even shuffleboard courts. They even have a roller rink! The husband and I have been thinking about doing the kayaking that they offer in this area as well.

Seafood fan? Okay so Luke Lobster is a little on the expensive side but their lobster rolls are just so yummy. The bun is perfectly toasted with butter which goes perfectly with their chilled Maine style lobster. I always get the lobster roll combo, which comes with a drink, chips or slaw and pickle.

Ample Hill is a total Brooklyn fixture...I mean after all it's named after a Walt Whitman poem called Crossing the Brooklyn FerryWhat is it, then, between us?

What is the count of the scores or hundreds of years between us?Whatever it is, it avails not-Distance avails not and place avails not. I too lived-Brooklyn of Ample Hills, was mine.

Ample Hill made my list of Best Ice Cream Places in New York (which you can read here). The Ample Hill's Brooklyn Bridge Park has a smaller selection of ice creams then what you'll find at their shops. Some of my favorite flavors are: Sweet Cream and Cookies, Pistachio Squared, The Raw Deal and Snap, Mallow, Pop.

July 27, 2016

Summertime calls for the summer chop. I've been wanting to chop my hair for sometime now and as the temps keep rising the more the need became apparent. The real internal battle I was having was to cut my bangs or to continue to grow them out. I've had my bangs for so long that I forgot what I had looked like with out them. With much consideration and after chopping some length off before getting my hair dyed I stuck to my initial idea of growing out my bangs. Hey worst comes to worst I can always go get them cut.

July 25, 2016

I feel like my personal style is always changing...adapting...and growing with age. Lately I find myself leaning more towards J.Crew and Madewell but with a Anthropologie twist to it. I like J.Crew and Kate Spade for the polished feminine vibe but like the boho vibrance of stores like Anthropologie and Free People. This look in particular made me think of my evolution of my personal style. I was always on the fence about cropped flared jeans but then I found these on sale at Madewell and gave them a try. I love that they have this boho vibe but can me paired with feminine touches like a pair of printed pumps.

July 22, 2016

Lately I've felt like I've been in a fashion rut...probably because there has been so much going in on in my personal life that I don't really have time to focus on outfits or what to wear. Whenever I start to feel like this I go to my staple pieces and mix them up.

July 20, 2016

There are some jumpsuits that you can wear on date night or out with the girls...and there are others that you can wear to weddings or remix for work. I brought back my Yumi Kim jumpsuit that I bought at a sample sale last summer but remixed the look, which was as simple as dressing it was a plain-white tee underneath. Adding a simple white tee under a jumpsuit with a deep neckline can help make it more modest plus give it a daytime friendly appeal. This is a simple trick that you can do with a lot of different jumpsuits. I even styled a jumpsuit during the winter with a turtleneck underneath (read here). Sometimes the simplest things can reinvent a look...this is especial helpful when you get bored with your looks and the clothes hanging in your closet.

July 15, 2016

If you want to feel like you are on a tropical getaway head to Rockaway Beach. Rockaway Beach has been in a total transformation over the past few years; it has now become the destination for hipsters and surfers alike. I love heading to the Rockaways for some sand, sun, and drinks. It's like a mini-getaway without having to go far.

PRO-TIP: Get off at Beach 98 easy access to Playland Motel, the broadwalk and Rockaway Surf Club.

Playland Motel has eats and drinks. If you plan on spending all day out at Rockaway Beach, head to Playland Motel for breakfast. Fuel up on some breakfast tacos before hitting the shore. Or wind down your day with some cocktails and nachoes in the beach vibe back patio.

Beach 98

Looking to grab some lunch, snacks, and booze? Beach 98 has everything you could ask for. This isn't your typical boardwalk food -- they have everything from BBQ food to sea food to smoothies. Forgot something at home? Don't worry there's a surf shop too. Plus they have live music on Saturday nights so chill out boardwalk style.

Rockaway Beach Surf Club is one of my favorite ways to end a day at Rockaway Beach. The line is always long for tacos (totally worth the wait) but the drinks are always cold and refreshing. Rockaway Beach Surf Club totally transports me to California or even Hawaii, with the backyard patio and hanging surfboards. Chill out in the backyard patio or if you had enough sun hangout inside...whichever you choose you can't go wrong! Want more? Check out:Riis Park Beach Bazaarriisparkbeachbazaar.comBungalow Bar & Restaurantingoodcompanyhg.com/bungalow/

This summer I'm all about dressing like I'm on a tropical vacation. I love playing with different prints and for some reason these two prints shouldn't go together but they worked perfectly. This is probably one of my favorite looks that I've thrown together recently.

July 11, 2016

They don't call Sunday Funday for no reason. This Sunday I celebrated my bestie from high school's 30th birthday with bottomless mimosas then the husband and I celebrated Bastille Day in the hood. We've lived in Carroll Gardens for the past 5 years and for the past 4 years we've missed the exciting Bastille Day activities. So it was nice to finally get to celebrate and what better way then with France and Portugal in the Euro Cup finale...even though France ended up losing. Either way it was a great way to end the weekend.

July 8, 2016

Sometimes mistakes make you have to think on your feet and you end up creating something pretty damn good. My husband and I had this idea of creating sugar cookie strawberry cups using Pillsbury sugar cookie dough. Well not fully thinking this through when I pulled out the muffin tin and let them sit they started to fall apart. I hadn't thought about the consistency of the dough holding up. I already had used a whole roll and a half of dough, so I didn't want to toss it all out and buy new dough and to do a sheet. With some quick thinking on my part, I switched it up to a trifle. Okay more like a "trifle" since we are not fancy and don't actually have a trifle bowl. Either way it worked out PERFECTLY!

This is the perfect quick summer dessert for backyard BBQs or pool parties.

July 1, 2016

Are you traveling for the long weekend? Or are you just staycationing? Maybe throwing a BBQ? No matter what your plans are for the weekend everyone needs a good playlist. The husband and I are having a small BBQ on Sunday with some close friends so a good BBQ playlist is a must! Since everyone has different taste in music I always like picking a good mix of music. There are certain songs that will always make it onto a BBQ or summer travel playlist of mine, which are: Sublime "Santeria" and "What I Got" as well as O.A.R "That Was A Crazy Game of Poker." These are the songs that remind me of being at college hanging out with my friend. And of course you need the classics like Jimmy Buffet "Margaritaville" and Bob Marley "Is This Love."